Concentrated phosphorus fertilizer

Abstract

A concentrated fluid phosphorus fertilizer is shown. In the preferred embodiment, the concentrated fluid phosphorus fertilizer is an aqueous suspension fertilizer composition. The composition comprises one or more phosphorus-containing acids or salts thereof selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, polyphosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, polyphosphorous acid, hypophosphorous acid and polyhypophosphorous acid, and salts thereof. A suspension agent maintains undissolved solids in substantially homogeneous suspension wherein the suspension has a total acid and salt content of about 50% w/w to about 80% w/w. The concentrated fluid phosphorus fertilizer is a stable suspension and when diluted with water a substantially fully soluble fertilizer having acceptable pH for phosphorus uptake is formed. Methods for improving the phosphorus uptake and improving the growth rate of plants is also shown.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An aqueous suspension fertilizer composition comprising 
 one or more phosphorus-containing acids or salts thereof selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, polyphosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, polyphosphorous acid, hypophosphorous acid and polyhypophosphorous acid, and salts thereof, and    a suspension agent to maintain undissolved solids in substantially homogeneous suspension wherein the suspension has a total acid and salt content of about 50% w/w to about 80% w/w.    
     
     
         2 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 1  wherein the phosphorus-containing acid or salt thereof comprises phosphorous acid or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 2  wherein the phosphorus-containing acid or salt thereof comprises potassium phosphite.  
     
     
         4 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 2  wherein the suspension composition comprises about 15% w/w to about 75% w/w phosphorous acid or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 1  wherein the phosphorus-containing acid or salt thereof comprises phosphoric acid or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 5  wherein the phosphorus-containing acid or salt thereof comprises monopotassium phosphate.  
     
     
         7 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 5  wherein the suspension composition comprises about 5% w/w to about 55% w/w phosphoric acid or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 1  wherein the phosphorus-containing acid or salt thereof comprises a mixture of phosphorous acid or a salt thereof and phosphoric acid or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 8  wherein the aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of claim on composition comprises about 15% w/w to about 75% w/w potassium phosphite and about 5% w/w to about 55% w/w monopotassium phosphate.  
     
     
         10 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 1  wherein the suspension agent is selected from the group consisting of alkyl celluloses and polysaccharides.  
     
     
         11 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 10  wherein the suspension agent is an anionic heteropolysaccharide.  
     
     
         12 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 10  wherein the suspension agent is xanthan gum.  
     
     
         13 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 1  wherein the suspension composition additionally contains a nitrogen source.  
     
     
         14 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 13  wherein the suspension composition contains a nitrogen source selected from the group consisting of urea and ammonium nitrate.  
     
     
         15 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 1  wherein the suspension composition additionally contains one or more micronutrients.  
     
     
         16 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 15  wherein the suspension composition additionally contains one or more micronutrients selected from the group consisting of calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, selenium, boron, molybdenum, silicates and sulphur.  
     
     
         17 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 16  wherein the suspension composition additionally contains manganese EDTA.  
     
     
         18 . The aqueous suspension fertilizer composition of  claim 16  wherein the suspension composition additionally contains zinc EDTA.  
     
     
         19 . A concentrated phosphorus fertilizer comprising a mono potassium phosphite comprising about 50% w/w of the fertilizer; 
 an EDTA zinc comprising about 0.2% zinc by weight of the fertilizer;    an EDTA manganese comprising about 0.2% manganese by weight of the fertilizer wherein said EDTA zinc and said EDTA manganese are substantially dissolved and substantially saturate said mono potassium phosphite resulting in a absence of water for additional dissolving;    a mono potassium phosphate which is in suspension in the fertilizer; and    a suspension agent for preventing mono potassium phosphate in suspension from settling out of the fertilizer;    said concentrated phosphorus fertilizer being a stable solution and when said concentrated phosphorus fertilizer is diluted with water, a substantially fully soluble fertilizer having acceptable pH for phosphorus uptake is formed.    
     
     
         20 . The concentrated phosphorus fertilizer of  claim 19  wherein said fertilizer, when diluted, has a pH of from 5.0 to about 7.5.  
     
     
         21 . The concentrated phosphorus fertilizer of  claim 19  wherein said suspension agent is selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, galactomannans, anionic polymers, cationic polymers and non-ionic polymers.  
     
     
         22 . A concentrated phosphorus fertilizer formulation comprising 
 a phosphorus derived from a mono potassium phosphite comprising about 50% w/w of the fertilizer;    an EDTA zinc comprising about 0.2% zinc by weight of the fertilizer;    an EDTA manganese comprising about 0.2% manganese of the fertilizer wherein said EDTA zinc and said EDTA manganese are substantially dissolved and substantially saturate said mono potassium phosphite resulting in a absence of water for additional dissolving;    a mono potassium phosphate which is in suspension in the fertilizer; and    a suspension agent for preventing mono potassium phosphate in suspension from settling out of the fertilizer;    said concentrated phosphorus fertilizer formulation when diluted with water forming a substantially fully soluble fertilizer.    
     
     
         23 . The concentrated phosphorus fertilizer formulation of  claim 22  wherein said substantially fully soluble fertilizer has an acceptable pH for phosphorus uptake.  
     
     
         24 . The concentrated phosphorus fertilizer formulation of  claim 23  wherein said fertilizer formulation, when diluted with water, has a pH of about 5.0 to 7.5.  
     
     
         25 . A method of improving the phosphorus uptake of plants comprising application of a water diluted concentrated phosphorus fertilizer of  claim 19  to plants.  
     
     
         26 . A method of improving the phosphorus uptake of plants comprising application of a water diluted concentrated phosphorus fertilizer formulation of  claim 22  to plants.  
     
     
         27 . A method of improving the growth rate of plants comprising application of a water diluted concentrated phosphorus fertilizer of  claim 19  to plants.  
     
     
         28 . A method of improving the growth rate of plants comprising application of a water diluted concentrated phosphorus fertilizer formulation of  claim 22  to plants.  
     
     
         29 . A method of improving the phosphorus uptake of plants comprising 
 providing a concentrated phosphorus fertilizer comprising a mono potassium phosphite comprising about 50% w/w of the fertilizer; an EDTA zinc comprising about 0.2% zinc by weight of the fertilizer; an EDTA manganese comprising about 0.2% manganese by weight of the fertilizer wherein said EDTA zinc and said EDTA manganese are substantially dissolved and substantially saturate said mono potassium phosphite resulting in a absence of water for additional dissolving;    mixing a mono potassium phosphate which is in suspension in the fertilizer;    mixing a suspension agent for preventing mono potassium phosphate in suspension from settling out of the fertilizer wherein said concentrated phosphorus fertilizer is a stable solution and when said concentrated phosphorus fertilizer is diluted with water, a substantially fully soluble liquid fertilizer having acceptable pH for phosphorus uptake is formed; and    diluting said concentrated liquid fertilizer with water to form a substantially fully soluble fertilizer having a foliage-acceptable pH for phosphorus uptake; and    applying said diluted fertilizer to said plants.    
     
     
         30 . The method of improving the phosphorus uptake of plant of  claim 29  wherein the step of diluting said concentrated liquid fertilizer includes using a fertilizer, when diluted, having a pH of from 5.0 to about 7.5.  
     
     
         31 . The method of improving the phosphorus uptake of plant of  claim 29  wherein the step of mixing a suspension agent includes using a suspension agent selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, galactomannans, anionic polymers, cationic polymers and non-ionic polymers.  
     
     
         32 . A method for making an inorganic phorphosus fertilizer comprising the steps of: 
 providing a mono potassium phosphite;    mixing an EDTA Zinc into the mono potassium phosphite forming a mixture;    mixing an EDTA manganeze into the mixture;    mixing a mono potassium phosphate into the mixture wherein the mono potassium phosphate is in suspension; and    mixing into the mixture a suspension agent for preventing the mono potassium phosphate in suspension from settling out of the mixture forming a concentrated liquid fertilizer.    
     
     
         33 . The method for making an inorganic phorphosus fertilizer of  claim 32  further comprising the step of: 
 diluting the concentrated liquid fertilizer with water to a substantially fully soluble fertilizer having a foliage-acceptable pH for phosphorus uptake.  
 
     
     
         34 . The method for making an inorganic phorphosus fertilizer of  claim 33  further comprising the step of: 
 applying the diluted substantially fully soluble fertilizer to plants.  
 
     
     
         35 . A method of improving the phosphorus uptake of plants comprising application of a water diluted concentrated phosphorus fertilizer of  claim 1  to plants.